Top 8 French-to-English pronunciation mistakes – and how to fix them

May 19

3 min read

When French speakers learn English, their accent can sometimes make communication unclear – or even unintentionally funny. But don’t worry: most issues are easy to fix once you know what to focus on.

Here are 8 of the most common pronunciation challenges I hear when coaching French speakers – and what you can do to sound more natural and confident.

1. The “th” sound (think / this)

The issue: French doesn’t have this sound. So many say “sink” instead of “think” or “zis” instead of “this.”

Fix it: Gently place your tongue between your teeth and blow air – like a soft hiss. Try saying:→ think, thank, thin→ this, that, those

🗣️ Tip: Record yourself and compare to online dictionaries like Cambridge.

2. Flat intonation and missing stress

The issue: French sounds even; English uses stressed syllables for rhythm and meaning. Example: com-PU-ter vs. COM-pu-ter

Fix it: Learn where the stress falls and exaggerate it slightly at first.→ Use bold stress: in-FOR-mation, de-CI-sion, e-LEC-tric.

🗣️ Tip: Use an online dictionary with audio to hear the correct pattern.

3. Dropping final consonants (-ed endings)

The issue: Many French speakers skip or soften final consonants. “Worked” sounds like “work”.

Fix it: Practise -ed endings:→ worked / played / wanted. Note that:

“worked” = /t/ sound
“played” = /d/ sound
“wanted” = /ɪd/ sound

🗣️ Tip: Say them in full sentences: I worked all day.

4. The English ‘h’

The issue: The ‘h’ is often dropped. So “house” becomes “ouse,” and “have” becomes “ave.”

Fix it: Imagine a light exhale – a breath of air.→ house, hotel, happy, help

🗣️ Tip: Put your hand in front of your mouth to feel the air.

5. Vowel length and clarity – beach vs. bitch

The issue: English vowel length changes meaning. Some short vowels sound like something else…

Fix it: Focus on these “danger pairs”:→ beach / bitch→ sheet / [something else!]→ focus / foe-cuss

Smile when saying beach and stretch the vowel in sheet and focus.

🗣️ Tip: Don’t rush. Clear pronunciation beats fast talking.

6. Silent letters

The issue: In English, many letters are written but not pronounced. French speakers often say them anyway.

Fix it: Learn common examples:→ walk, talk, know, honest

🗣️ Tip: Say the word in a sentence: I walk to work. Practice until it sounds natural.

7. The intrusive vowel (the French “uh”)

The issue: Many French speakers insert an extra sound between words – “stress-uh-management” instead of “stress management.”

Fix it: Practise linking words without extra vowels:→ next week, not next-uh-week→ project update, not project-uh-update

🗣️ Tip: Record short phrases and listen back for extra sounds.

8. Speaking with no pauses – sing-song rhythm

The issue: French speech flows smoothly; English uses pauses and rhythm chunks. Without them, your message can be hard to follow.

Fix it: Speak in phrases, not one long line: ❌ “TodayIwouldliketopresentyoumyproject…”→ ✅ “Today… I would like to present… my project.”

🗣️ Tip: Listen to TED Talks. Mimic how speakers pause for effect.

🎯 Want help reducing your accent?

As a native English coach who works with French-speaking professionals across Europe, I specialise in helping you sound clear and confident – without losing your personality.